The 37-year-old Ajmal is under suspension for illegal bowling action since September last year and will appear in a reassessment test in Chennai, India on January 24. The PCB said the central contracts would run from January to March 31 this year. Ajmal was retained in "A" category along with Test and one-day captain Misbah-ul Haq, Younus Khan, M Hafeez, Shahid Afridi and Junaid Khan. Paceman Junaid was lucky to be retained in the top category despite being sidelined through injury since October last year.

"PCB has extended central contracts up to March 31, 2015 the central contracts awarded for the year 2015 will be awarded in April. The term of the previous contracts expired December 31, 2014," said a PCB spokesman. Shah and Sohail -- both part of Pakistan's 15-man squad for next month's World Cup -- have been awarded central contract in Category 'D', he added. The central contracts committee - headed by director cricket operations international Zakir Khan, director game development Haroon Rasheed, national selection committee chairman Moin Khan and head coach Waqar Younis – met on December 7, 2014 to discuss various options. After due deliberations, it was decided to existing contracts.